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Lind slots second in Blue Jays' shuffled order

4/12/13: Adam Lind rips a double that scores Edwin Encarnacion from third to give the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead over the Royals in the first

By Gregor Chisholm
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MLB.com |

BALTIMORE -- In an effort to generate more offense, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons opted to move Adam Lind into the No. 2 spot of his batting order for Tuesday night's game against the Orioles.

The move comes just one day after Lind saw his streak of consecutive times reaching base end at nine. During a span of three games, he walked six times and recorded three singles, resulting in Lind entering play vs. Baltimore with a .380 on-base percentage.

As a result of the lineup change, Melky Cabrera was dropped to No. 5 in the batting order as the two players essentially switched spots.

"I just haven't been too stubborn this year, and I've made adjustments with what pitchers have done," Lind said of his approach. "Hopefully I get more fastballs. That's the goal to get myself in hitter's counts, but the way people throw is usually when they're ahead in the count -- that's when you get all of the offspeed pitches."

During Lind's eight-year career, he has been used in all nine spots of the batting order. The native of Indiana previously started 20 games in the two spot while posting a .232 average with a .315 on-base percentage.

The overall numbers, though, are of little consequence as Gibbons admitted the decision wasn't based on anything scientific. Instead, it's a move designed to provide a spark for a lineup that has struggled with consistent production.

The Blue Jays have recorded five hits or fewer in five of their 20 games so far. They've also outhit their opponents just four times while scoring three runs or fewer on 12 occasions.

Lind's ascension in the batting order won't solve all of those problems, but it's a different look that Gibbons hopes will lead to a reversal of fortune.

"I'm just looking for one pitch, really," Lind said. "Staying back, because we're going to see a lot of offspeed pitches with this lineup. Realizing that they might throw you fastballs, but that's not how they're going to try and get you out."